Scenic areas across China have drawn crowds during the ongoing National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday by introducing robotic innovations that make mountain climbing more accessible and enjoyable, while others have improved accessibility to the most splendid displays of lakes and mountains.
The southern foot of the Taihang Mountains in Xinxiang, central China's Henan Province, has launched seven hiking trails, designed for everyone from beginners to outdoor enthusiasts.
Now, however, technology is making it even easier for hikers to experience the area's natural landscapes. This year, the scenic area has introduced exoskeleton robots -- wearable devices that assist with climbing by adjusting their movement frequency to match the user's pace, making the ascent effortless.
"I just feel like my legs are particularly relaxed. It's not so strenuous to take steps uphill, and I can climb stairs faster," said Zhou Xiaoying, a visitor from east China's Zhejiang Province who took on the hike using an exoskeleton robot for assistance.
During the first three days of the holiday, the scenic area welcomed over 120,000 visitors, with 61 percent being short-distance travelers from Henan and its neighboring provinces, including Hebei, Shanxi, and Shandong.
In southwest China's Sichuan Province, the Jianmen Pass scenic area received over 100,000 visitors during the first three days of the holiday, with the Yuannao Ancient Trail emerging as a must-visit attraction.
Carved into a cliff with a drop of over 500 meters, the 440-meter-long trail lies along the mountainside. With its width varying from only 15 centimeters at the narrowest to about 30 centimeters at the widest, the path offers an unforgettable trekking adventure.
The scenic area has also introduced exoskeleton robots to make the arduous ascent more accessible for visitors.
In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Tianshan Mountains scenic area presents a picture-perfect landscape where crystal-blue waters, lush spruce forests, and snow-capped peaks blend into a scene so stunning it appears to be painted by nature.
The scenic area welcomed over 50,000 visitors during the first three days of the holiday.
During the holiday, the Yamdrok Lake scenic area in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region attracted numerous visitors with its stunning autumn scenery, featuring sparkling blue waters set against distant snow-capped mountains.
In recent years, improved infrastructure around the lake has made visits more convenient. The area received over 1.36 million visitors from January to September this year.
Nearly 200,000 visitors flocked to the Yuntai Mountain scenic area in Henan Province during the first three days of the holiday to enjoy breathtaking views from the peaks, where a majestic sea of clouds after the rain left a lasting impression on all who arrived.
This year, China's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday runs from Oct 1 to Oct 8.
China's scenic spots lure visitors robotic with hiking gear, improved accessibility
